Start Thinking About Summer Jobs Now
When finals are over and college is out for the summer, you can finally take a break from the books. But why not put the time to good use and find a seasonal job? Not only will you be able to tuck some money away for fall, you might just gain valuable life or work experience to draw from later. Unemployment is indeed high at this time, but there is always a need for interns and seasonal employees. Here are some ideas to get your search started:
1. The food business. Whether you consider working in fast food or a five-star restaurant, there is nothing wrong with putting time as a server, kitchen worker or host. You’ll learn about the food industry and maybe even decide that it’s something you want to get into after you get your college degree.
2. Where there’s fun, there’s work. Families with young kids usually take advantage of the break from school by joining pools, taking vacations or sending them to camp. All of this activity represents an opportunity for you to work. Do you live near an amusement park or a water slide? Even a miniature golf course needs to have cashiers, ice-cream scoopers and someone to cut the grass. Summer is also a great time to take in a drive-in movie. Think of everything you liked to do as a kid and then go there to see if they’re hiring college students for summer.
3. Office help. While it may sound like fun to work as a life guard, not everyone has the training or even the desire to sit in a chair all day with a nothing but a whistle. Maybe getting an inside look at the world of business is what you’re interested in. Even better, get a job in the kind of business that you are majoring in to see if you made the right choice before it’s too late. If you understand computers and can type, you are probably as qualified as you need to be. If you can’t think of a particular company, go to a temp agency and you won’t get bored in one place.
4. If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, try your hand at creating your own business. You could wash windows or paint houses. Maybe you love yard work and have access to all the tools you need to cut grass for the summer. Come up with a marketing brochure and get it out there to prospective clients by April to see if you can make enough money.
University students might also use their summer vacations to find a volunteering opportunity. There are summer youth programs, hospitals and food banks who would love your help. You might not get a paycheck for your time spent, but life lessons sometimes are more valuable than money.
Alan Greene counsels working adult students on selecting online degree programs and online colleges offering graduate programs.
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